1 May 2026Drugs for external use and antiseptics
Mupirocin, ointment
Mupirocin ointment guidance for localized non-bullous impetigo, including reassessment and escalation criteria.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Use restrictions
Mupirocin should not be used in patients with extended impetigo (more than 5 lesions or more than one skin area involved), bullous impetigo, ecthyma, impetigo with abscess, and in immunodeficient patients: in such cases, oral antibiotic therapy is required.
Therapeutic action
Antibacterial.
Indications
Localized non-bullous impetigo (less than 5 lesions in a single area).
Forms and strengths
2% ointment, tube.
Dose and duration
- Child and adult: one application 3 times daily, to clean and dry skin, for 7 days.
- The patient should be reassessed after 3 days. If there is no response, switch to oral antibiotic therapy.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- May cause pruritus and burning sensation, and allergic reactions.
- If applying to the face, avoid contact with eyes.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication. Do not apply to the breasts.
- Do not mix with other ointments.
- Avoid touching the lesions and keep them covered with gauze if possible.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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